When you don’t live up to expectations in professional careers, you’ll get replaced. That’s what happened to three NCAA football coaches this past weekend, including Arizona State’s very own Dirk Koetter.

Mike Shula and Chuck Amato, former head coaches of Alabama and N.C. State respectively, were the other two coaches who were shown the door. N.C. State, who will be heading into the off season on a seven-game losing streak, finished their season 3-9 after an embarrassing loss to East Carolina. Alabama finished their season 6-6, losing three straight including the tough loss against #15 ranked Auburn last week.

Although Alabama is bowl eligible, their season took a 180 degree turn from last year’s 10-2 record. Other colleges, such as Iowa State and Michigan State, took measures to replace their coaches as well, but it seems that these replacements are warranted.

Dirk Koetter was fired after leading the Sun Devils to a 7-5 record, an unexpected (and decisive) victory in Tucson against the Arizona Wildcats, and guaranteed bowl bid in December. Compared to the other coaches, Koetter’s early dismissal was shocking, since many thought the win at Arizona would secure his job for next year. But no matter what the critics say, Koetter’s departure was inevitable.

In the beginning of the season, the Sun Devils were ranked in the top 25. Koetter had the world on his shoulders, and there were high expectations for the team.

Last year was very similar. They were ranked in the beginning, and they let it slip. Although the Sun Devils did manage to beat the Rutgers at the Insight Bowl, their season was all but successful.

This season was meant to be different, but he destroyed the chemistry from the start.

Koetter took a gamble by holding a tryout for the starting job at QB. He created a competitive attitude within the team, causing unnecessary drama and hostility. Rudy Carpenter was ultimately given the job, and Sam Keller hit the road to Nebraska, where he just served his red shirt year and is expected to start next year.

Now that Keller is at Nebraska, Carpenter truly was the man. With a weak backup, Koetter had no choice but to keep him in during times of struggle. Unfortunately, that gamble did not pay off for Dirk, and now he is paying the dealer.

If Koetter had kept Keller, he may have kept his job. Keller was more experienced, more reliable, more talented, and better conditioned. Carpenter has spurts of greatness, but he (and the team) could have benefited from the leadership of Keller. Hindsight is 20/20.

The quarterback situation was one of many problems with the Sun Devils this year, but the biggest problem was the coach, the true leader. Is Koetter’s release warranted? Of course. And to those who may herald him as one who can adapt in times of peril: The problem, like it or not, is he is the peril.

Written by Troy Mihalek

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